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Overview

All of Washington, D.C., is thrown into a panic when an extraterrestrial spacecraft lands near the White House. Out steps Klaatu (Michael Rennie, in a role intended for Claude Rains), a handsome and soft-spoken interplanetary traveler, whose "bodyguard" is Gort (Lock Martin), a huge robot who spews forth laser-like death rays when danger threatens. After being wounded by an overzealous soldier, Klaatu announces that he has a message of the gravest importance for all humankind, which he will deliver only when all the leaders of all nations will agree to meet with him. World politics being what they are in 1951, Klaatu's demands are turned down and he is ordered to remain in the hospital, where his wounds are being tended. Klaatu escapes, taking refuge in a boarding house, where he poses as one "Mr. Carpenter" (one of the film's many parallels between Klaatu and Christ). There the benign alien gains the confidence of a lovely widow (Patricia Neal) and her son, Bobby (Billy Gray), neither of whom tumble to his other-worldly origins, and seeks out the gentleman whom Bobby regards as "the smartest man in the world" -- an Einstein-like scientist, Dr. Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe). The next day, at precisely 12 o'clock, Klaatu arranges for the world to "stand still" -- he shuts down all electrical power in the world, with the exception of essentials like hospitals and planes in flight. Directed by Robert Wise, who edited Citizen Kane (1941) and The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) for director Orson Welles before going on to direct such major 1960s musicals as West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965), The Day the Earth Stood Still was based on the story Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) 2.7 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
32 reviews.

Hugo-Z-Hackenbush

More than 1 year ago

If you think a squid has more value than a human being, if you think a bureaucratic busybody alien should solve all of our "problems", if think that anyone in a uniform is a dunderheaded moron, if you think that crabgrass is more valuable than a baseball diamond, if you think remakes are just gee swell mister, if you think any movie is improved with a wooden lead and a whiney, disrespectful, ungrateful brat, then this movie is for you, you pathetic spongebrained drone. Kathy Bates, James Hong, and John Cleese I love you dearly, but never do this again, or I will look upon you like I do Steve Martin after his Pink Panther foray. This film is an abject failure on every level, and an embarrassment.

mlobb

More than 1 year ago

Sorry, but that review was not only accurate, but more entertaining then this movie. Thus movie gets 1 star, but that review gets 5 stars. LoL

Alfeetoe

More than 1 year ago

I can only speculate that something like this is the thought process behind remaking classic movies: "Hey guys, I just saw a GREAT old movie I think we should revisit. It's called 'The Day the Earth Stood Still.' What's that? Never heard of it. Neither have I. But it's great. What's that? Oh, I don't really remember what it's about, but I remember the DVD cover. There is this robot guy, and he shoots lasers! FRICKIN LASERS! It is so hardcore. What's that? No, theres more to it. There is this other guy, who is NOT a robot, but hes from space. And theres a lot of talking, and stuff. What? Yeah, yeah, the robot blows stuff up. But here's what I'm thinking. The guy right, not the robot, he's an alien, right? So let's cast a soul-less cardboard mannequin to stand there looking all brooding and serious. Then the robot, ok, let's make him EXTREME. Like, instead of being vaguely human like, he turns into a giant swarm of robot bugs. And instead of the movie having a poignant message about man's inevitable path towards self-annihilation, we'll just destroy stuff! Yeah! Like the alien bug robot guy just flies around, wiping things out, and shooting evil lasers, and causing a ruckus! Oh, yeah, yeah, sure...of COURSE there will be a hard rockin' soundtrack and some product tie ins. THIS IS GOING TO BE HUGE!"
I hate Hollywood.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

The Overview on this pages is for the original film, not the remake released in 2008 (which the cover/director/cast listing is for).
I enjoyed this movie very much, and found it thought-provoking and entertaining.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This was a great movie in many ways. I had to add it to my collection.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Decent movie, could have been better with a more detailed focus on the origin of the lifeforms but overall a good movie.